Royal India tour: Kate Middleton plays with baby elephants and rhinos on safari with Prince William

Kate Middleton got to feed a young elephant and play with a baby rhino during a visit to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Panbari reserve forest in Kaziranga, in the northeastern state of Assam, India.

Kate Middleton plays with a baby rhino at the conservation centreAdnan Abidi/ReutersThe Duchess of Cambridge feeds a young rhinoAdnan Abidi/ReutersKate Middleton feeds a baby elephant at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at Panbari reserve forest in KazirangaAdnan Abidi/ReutersPrince William and Kate Middleton feed baby elephantsArthur EdwardsThe Duchess of Cambridge plays with baby rhinosArthur EdwardsThe Duchess of Cambridge paints a carved elephant at the Mark Shand Foundation in Kaziranga National ParkChris Jackson/Getty ImagesKate claps as her husband cracks a coconut at the national parkChris Jackson/Getty ImagesPeople wait for the royal couple to arrive at Pan Bari agricultural villageChris Jackson/Getty ImagesA young girl awaits the arrival of the royalsChris Jackson/Getty ImagesLocals wait for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to arriveChris Jackson/Getty ImagesTwo boys await the arrival of Kate and William at the Pan Bari agricultural villageChris Jackson/Getty ImagesThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Pan Bari agricultural village in Kaziranga National ParkChris Jackson/Getty ImagesKate Middleton poses as she visits the Pan Bari agricultural village in Kaziranga National ParkChris Jackson/Getty ImagesKate Middleton meets young children as she visits the Pan Bari agricultural village in Kaziranga National ParkChris Jackson/Getty ImagesKate Middleton has a cup of tea at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Assam stateArthur EdwardsThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit a village tea garden in Kaziranga, Assam stateBiju Boro/AFP

Prince William and Kate Middleton headed out in a jeep first thing in the morning for a wildlife safari at the Kaziranga National Park, home to the world's largest population of the rare one-horned rhino. The global conservation group WWF estimates there are about 3,500 left in the world, mostly in north-eastern India, with a few hundred in neighbouring Nepal.

The royals are driven through the national parkHeathcliff O'MalleyThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge go on a game drive at Kaziranga National ParkHeathcliff O'Malley

Although their numbers have increased significantly since the early 1990s, when their numbers were estimated at fewer than 2,000, the animals are under threat from wildlife poachers and habitat loss. Already this year, six rhinos have been killed for their horns, after 20 were poached in 2015.

The royal couple were joined by a park official as guide on a tour across dirt tracks, tall grasslands and thick evergreen forest. They met a group of forest rangers and wildlife wardens at an anti-poaching camp inside the reserve, which is also home to other endangered species such as swamp deer and the hoolock gibbon. VS Bhaskar, a top Assam state government official, said the royal couple saw rhinos, wild boars, buffalo, hog deer and a variety of birds.

Prince William asked the forest rangers about the conservation challenges they face, he said. The rangers told him that the poachers were using sophisticated automatic weapons, whereas the forest guards had old rifles, which were being upgraded.

A one-horned rhino crosses a path during the royal couple's safariHeathcliff O'MalleyThe royals are pictured during their safariHeathcliff O'MalleyThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose with park rangersHeathcliff O'MalleyPrince William chats to rangers at the national parkHeathcliff O'MalleyThe Duchess's safari shoesBiju Boro/AFPA forest guard protects an elephant before the royal arrivalAdnan Abidi/ReutersKate is given a scarf by an Indian forest officialBiju Boro/AFPA guide instructs the royal couple before they leave for a game driveChris Jackson/Getty ImagesAn Indian elephant flaps its ears at Kaziranga National ParkChris Jackson/Getty Images

The royal couple had enjoyed an evening around the campfire as local artistes performed folk dances. The royal couple's visit comes a day ahead of Assam's local festival, Bihu, which marks the beginning of Assamese New Year and signifies the time of harvest.

Prince William and Kate Middleton watch a young dancer performChris Jackson/Getty ImagesKate Middleton arrives for a Bihu Festival celebration at Diphlu River LodgeChris Jackson/Getty ImagesPrince William's safari shoesChris Jackson/Getty ImagesThe shoes worn by Kate Middleton at the festival celebrationChris Jackson/Getty ImagesThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose with performers at the lodgeChris Jackson/Getty ImagesKate watches dancing by the fireside at Diphlu River LodgeChris Jackson/Getty ImagesDancers smile at Diphlu River LodgeChris Jackson/Getty ImagesA man plays a musical instrumentChris Jackson/Getty ImagesDancers perform for the royal coupleChris Jackson/Getty Images